Publications
Reclaiming Darajani Creek: colonial sanitation, urban transformation, conservation and heritage memory in Stone Town of Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
A study on Darajani Creek in Stone Town, Zanzibarreveals that its reclamation, driven by colonial sanitation narratives, led to social exclusion and cultural erasure while shaping the town's memory. The research advocates for the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach to balance heritage conservation with urban growth, preserving both tangible and intangible values. Practical strategies, such as exhibitions and interpretive markers, are proposed to enhance public awareness, education, and economic benefits. By aligning environmental, social, and cultural objectives with sustainable development, this study aims to safeguard Darajani Creek's historical significance and reinforce Stone Town’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
Expanding the Heritage Narrative in N’gambo & Stone Town, Zanzibar: the ‘Upande Mmoja na wa Pekee’ Project
A new heritage narrative for Zanzibar City challenges the marginalization of Ng’ambo by integrating its pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial built heritage alongside Stone Town's UNESCO-recognized significance. The 'Upande Mmoja na wa Pekee' project critiques existing divisions in urban memory, using a multidisciplinary approach to reimagine public spaces and repurpose underutilized buildings. By analyzing the city's evolution through architectural, historical, and social lenses, the study aims to foster inclusive heritage representation, bridging gaps between tangible and intangible cultural expressions. Preliminary outcomes suggest potential for transforming urban identity while addressing the limitations of current conservation frameworks.
Heritage Conservation Management and Inter-Institutional Relations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania
A study of Zanzibar Stone Town challenges the assumption that conflict is inherent in inter-institutional heritage conservation management. Through documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, researchers identified a spectrum of relationships—ranging from collaborative exchanges of expertise and resources to neglect and nascent conflicts—that significantly impact conservation outcomes. The findings highlight that positive inter-institutional relations, characterized by cooperation and shared efforts, are crucial for effective heritage management in historic urban settings. This research broadens the understanding of stakeholder dynamics in World Heritage conservation, offering insights with implications for both policy and future studies.
Exploration and Characterization of Dynamic Properties for Cultural Heritage Conservation: A Case Study for Historical Stone Masonry Buildings in Zanzibar
A strong correlation exists between the natural frequencies of historical stone masonry buildings in Zanzibar Stone Town and their geometric parameters, with R² values ranging from 0.85 to 0.99. This finding was derived through ambient vibration tests (AVT) and eigenvalue analysis (EVA), revealing peak resonance frequencies between 2.8 and 5.3 Hz, non-uniform mode shapes, and damping ratios of 1.35% to 4.45%. Numerical predictions matched field data with high accuracy, as indicated by RMSE (0.29–0.3) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values between 0.81 and 0.99. These insights provide a foundation for targeted conservation strategies to preserve the structural integrity of Stone Town's heritage buildings amid rapid deterioration.
Puddles, creeks, and drainage: connected histories of water and malaria in Zanzibar, 1910–2021
Malaria and water have been intricately linked in Zanzibar over the past century, with stagnant water—such as puddles and tidal creeks—serving as critical breeding grounds for the disease. Archival records reveal that British colonial efforts to combat malaria between 1913 and 1957 focused on draining these water sources, though their impact was limited to urban areas like Stone Town. Oral histories from 98 Zanzibari residents confirm this enduring connection, with locals associating malaria most strongly with puddles (dimbwi/madimbwi) and stagnant water (maji yaliyotuama). The study underscores the historical and contemporary significance of water management in malaria control, highlighting both its challenges and persistent relevance.
Rural Settlement Dynamics in a Rapidly Urbanizing Landscape: Insights from Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeological Field Surveys in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Satellite remote sensing reveals that rural agricultural land played a pivotal role in the emergence of precolonial urbanism and remained significant as Zanzibar's Stone Town expanded during the Colonial era. This study demonstrates how high-resolution multitemporal satellite data can overcome challenges posed by rapid urbanization, which often obscures archaeological sites and limits traditional survey methods. By targeting undeveloped areas within urban interstices, researchers reconstructed settlement trajectories over the last millennium, offering new insights into African urban trajectories and heritage conservation in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Status and long-term changes of coral reefs around Zanzibar
Coral reefs around Zanzibar, including those near Stone Town, exhibit significant long-term declines in hard coral coverage, particularly following El Niño events. Branching Porites and Acropora dominate sheltered reefs, while soft corals and algae thrive in areas with strong hydrodynamic conditions. Seasonal variations, especially in soft coral Corallimorpharia, further shape reef communities, with northern exposed reefs showing distinct differences from more sheltered ones like Chumbe. The study analyzed benthic composition across ten reefs from 1992 to 2016, revealing average dissimilarities of 60–75% between sites and highlighting the impact of human activity and physical exposure on coral health. Hard corals, which covered 40–70% in most years, declined sharply post-1998 but showed recovery signs at remote reefs. Continued monitoring is crucial to assess the effectiveness of management strategies for sustaining these vital ecosystems.
Stone Town Built Heritage Identity as a Stimulus to Sustainable Urban Growth within Zanzibar City
Stone Town, Zanzibar's historic district, serves as a catalyst for sustainable urban growth by preserving its built heritage identity. This study reveals that local perceptions of Stone Town's cultural significance—rooted in Swahili, Arab, European, Indian, and African influences—can guide future development while safeguarding its unique architecture. Through qualitative methods including interviews and participatory workshops, researchers found that residents' attachment to Stone Town extends beyond its physical structures, shaping their vision for the city's expansion. The findings highlight heritage conservation as a key strategy to balance cultural, social, economic, and environmental sustainability in Zanzibar City. This work contributes to broader efforts to integrate heritage preservation into urban planning frameworks.
“Seeing like a City” – Sorting ‘Wire Spaghetti’ in Zanzibar Stone Town
Zanzibar Stone Town's 'wire spaghetti'—a chaotic tangle of electrical wires, water pipes, and cables—reveals deeper urban dynamics. This study deciphers the city's informal infrastructure, mapping its complexity to uncover how utility networks shape daily life in the historic Kasbah. By tracking connections from houses to lampposts, shop signs, and transformers, the research exposes a system of improvisation, resilience, and adaptation. The approach combines observational ethnography with detailed cataloging of materials (e.g., plastic, steel) and connectors, offering insights into how cities like Stone Town balance heritage preservation with functional needs in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Application of Mangrove Timber in Reinforcing Concrete
Mangrove timber, classified as strength class D70 hardwood, demonstrates significant potential for reinforcing concrete beams, though its structural performance is approximately 50% that of steel. Laboratory tests revealed that mangrove-reinforced beams with enlarged ends outperformed those with uniform rods, suggesting optimized design could enhance their load-bearing capacity. This finding supports the continued use of mangrove timber in historic buildings like Zanzibar Stone Town, despite limited existing structural data. The study involved sampling and testing mangrove specimens for tension, compression, and shear strengths, followed by comparative tests between mangrove- and steel-reinforced concrete beams.
Colonialism, heritage and conservation: Zanzibari perceptions of the collapse of the House of Wonders
Zanzibari residents' perceptions of the House of Wonders, an iconic Omani-built structure with colonial ties, reveal a complex relationship between heritage and identity. The 2020 collapse of this Zanzibar waterfront landmark, which killed two and injured others, highlighted how locals view its historical significance—balancing admiration for its cultural heritage with critiques of its colonial origins. Interviews with Stone Town residents explored themes of history, identity, and tourism, uncovering layered associations that position the House as both a symbol of Zanzibar's past and a point of contention in conservation efforts. The study underscores the tension between preserving colonial-era structures for tourism while addressing their problematic narratives.
Impacts of land-use change and urban development on carbon sequestration in tropical seagrass meadow sediments
Seagrass meadows, vital carbon sinks, can experience shifts in their carbon sequestration capacity due to human activities. A study comparing two Zanzibar seagrass meadows—Stone Town and Mbweni—revealed contrasting responses to urban development and mangrove deforestation. Both sites showed a 24–30% increase in organic carbon accumulation since the late 1990s, linked to changes in carbon sources. Stone Town's improved conditions, attributed to sewage outlet relocation, increased seagrass-derived carbon, while Mbweni's decline was tied to mangrove deforestation and terrestrial runoff. This research highlights how land-use changes, such as urbanization and deforestation, can alter coastal carbon storage dynamics, offering insights for managing vegetated coastal ecosystems.
Local Persistence of Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) under Increasing Urban Development: A Case Study from Zanzibar (Unguja), East Africa
Despite increasing urban development and potential water quality degradation, the coastal marine habitats off Zanzibar exhibit resilience with persistent large benthic foraminifera (LBF) assemblages. The study found high abundance of symbiont-bearing LBF, particularly Amphistegina species, alongside moderate diversity and high FoRAM Index values, indicating relatively healthy coral cover. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate levels from Stone Town's untreated sewage effluent showed variability but rarely exceeded critical thresholds for oligotrophic ecosystems. These findings suggest that LBF can serve as early warning indicators of benthic changes, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring in vulnerable coastal ecosystems facing rapid development pressures.
National Reconciliation as a Pre-requisite for National Heritage Conservation: The House of Wonders and Zanzibar Stone Town
National reconciliation is essential for effective heritage conservation, as demonstrated by the case of Zanzibar's House of Wonders and Stone Town. The study reveals that the building's degradation—marked by partial collapses in 2012 and 2020—mirrors broader social and political challenges in Zanzibari society, including post-revolutionary neglect and unresolved historical tensions. The research highlights how heritage conservation efforts must address not only structural restoration but also societal reconciliation to ensure sustainable recovery. By analyzing the House of Wonders' history as a symbol of precolonial modernization and colonial rule, the study underscores the need for inclusive approaches that reconcile Zanzibar's diverse cultural and political narratives.
Open research feedback session by the OctoPINTS project in Zanzibar
An open research feedback session in Stone Town, Zanzibar, concluded the OctoPINTS project by engaging practitioners, state representatives, researchers, and students to validate findings and discuss methodologies. The event aimed to foster dialogue around the project's results while expressing gratitude to participants over the years. This collaborative approach underscored the importance of community involvement in heritage research, offering insights into the impact of participatory methods on understanding and preserving Stone Town's cultural landscape.
Ship graffiti at the Zanzibar Gereza (Old Fort), Stone Town, Unguja, Tanzania
A study of ship graffiti at the Zanzibar Gereza (Old Fort) reveals that these inscriptions, dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, provide valuable insights into maritime trade routes, ship movements, and cultural exchanges in the Indian Ocean. The research analyzed 35 unique graffiti entries, identifying patterns such as recurring ship names, ports of origin, and the use of specific symbols that reflect the diverse influences of Zanzibar's past. By combining historical records with on-site documentation, the study demonstrates how ephemeral maritime markings can serve as a tangible link to the region's trade history, offering new perspectives on Stone Town's role in global commerce during its prime.
Colors of Stone Town in Zanzibar: From white to black and back again
Stone Town in Zanzibar undergoes natural color transformations reflecting its historical, political, and economic evolution. Initially white during the 19th century, it darkened due to decay by the mid-20th century before being partially restored to whiteness through recent renovations along the coastal strip. This shift highlights gentrification boundaries while also symbolizing ethnic divisions within the city. The study analyzes these color changes as a result of construction, destruction, and reconstruction cycles rather than deliberate design, contrasting with other cities like Tel Aviv or Miami Beach where color is consciously manipulated for urban branding.
Ecological health of coral reefs in Zanzibar
Coral reef health around Stone Town, Zanzibar, deteriorates significantly with proximity to urban and industrial pressures. While traditional benthic surveys revealed declining hard coral cover near Stone Town—likely due to fishing, tourism, and pollution—trace metal analysis uncovered widespread arsenic and cadmium contamination across all sites, along with concerning levels of chromium, copper, and zinc. These pollutants, not correlated with distance from the city, suggest remote reefs are affected by industrial and urban sewage downstream. The study highlights the necessity of combining multiple assessment methods to fully grasp reef degradation, as sediment and bioindicator data diverged from community structure surveys.
Moving still: Bicycles in Ranchhod Oza’s photographs of 1950s Stone Town (Zanzibar)
Bicycles in Ranchhod Oza’s photographs of 1950s Stone Town (Zanzibar) serve as more than mere symbols of modernity; they reflect the material aspects of daily life and placeness in a cosmopolitan Indian Ocean port city. The study highlights how bicycles, whether carrying people or goods, or serving as stage props, embody movement and potential, offering insights into Oza’s photographic style and Zanzibar’s cultural and historical context. By analyzing these images, the research reveals bicycles' role in capturing the essence of Stone Town's dynamic urban landscape during a transformative period.
Of Sky, Water and Skin: Photographs from a Zanzibari Darkroom
Photographic archives from Zanzibar's Capital Art Studio reveal new dimensions of visual history and cultural identity. By focusing on images developed in the Oza family's darkroom (1930–present), the study exposes how darkness—both literal and metaphorical—shapes photographic aesthetics, materiality, and historical narratives. It highlights Zanzibar's oceanic islandness through depictions of sky, water, and skin, while also examining the political disruptions of the 1964 Revolution, which temporarily halted photographic practices under the Afro-Shirazi regime. The research employs a conceptual framing of darkness to recontextualize African photography, challenging traditional narratives of light and mechanical reproduction.
Pray to the Archive: Abstracting History in Zanzibar
Archival readings of architecture, while common in scholarly work on Zanzibar's Stone Town, can obscure the island's complex and layered histories rather than illuminate them. This study demonstrates that such approaches often romanticize a past Indian Ocean cosmopolitanism at odds with Zanzibari reality, using the Khoja Jamatkhana as a case study. By analyzing formal architecture and historical context through the lens of contemporary artist Zarina Bhimji's work, the research reveals how archival readings limit our understanding of space-history relationships. The findings suggest that abstracting history in this manner restricts rather than expands our grasp of Zanzibar's architectural heritage.
Baraza, The Space of Public Life in Stone Town of Zanzibar
Despite the rise of digital communication and new public spaces, the baraza—a traditional platform for social interaction—remains a vital element of daily life in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Serving as an information hub, entertainment space, social unit, political platform, and religious base, the baraza retains its cultural significance even amid modernization. This study reveals that, contrary to expectations, the baraza’s role has not diminished with lifestyle changes or media evolution. Primary data from semi-structured interviews with residents, supplemented by secondary sources, underscores its enduring importance in shaping community dynamics and public life.
Closed House of Wonders museum: Implications to the tourism of Zanzibar Stone Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site
The closure of the House of Wonders Museum in Stone Town, Zanzibar, has significantly impacted tourism satisfaction and economic stability for tour operators, guides, and local communities. A study using mixed methods—surveying 105 tourists, 8 government officials, 6 tour guides, and 8 tour operators—revealed that the museum's absence negatively affects visitor experience and financial viability. To preserve the integrity of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the research recommends urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts to restore its cultural significance and economic benefits.
Contradictions in the Heritagization of Zanzibar ‘Stone Town’
Zanzibar's Stone Town embodies complex contradictions in its heritagization process. While it reflects Swahili roots and cosmopolitan influences from the Indian Ocean, British colonialism introduced divisions that persist today. The 1964 Zanzibar Revolution further reshaped the urban landscape through nationalization, raising questions about whose heritage should be preserved and what criteria define 'Outstanding Universal Value.' This study highlights the tensions between conservation efforts and social transformations, challenging UNESCO's universalist approach.
Role of CCTV Camera Security Project on the Sustainability of Tourism Industry in Zanzibar: A Case of Old Stone Town, Urban West Region, Zanzibar
A significant portion of respondents (33%) demonstrated high awareness of CCTV camera security projects in Zanzibar, highlighting their potential to enhance tourism sustainability. The study identified six prevalent crimes—stealing, robbery, vehicle disorders, theft by servants, breaking, and assault—that CCTV systems effectively mitigate. Key impacts included creating a secure business environment, preventing crime, reducing private security costs, and extending business operating hours. The research recommends adopting public-private partnerships to expand CCTV adoption across Zanzibar, emphasizing its role in fostering a safer tourism industry. This study employed a descriptive case method with cross-sectional design, leveraging observation, interviews, and questionnaires to analyze data from 120 respondents.
(Sensuous) Ways of Seeing in Stone Town, Zanzibar: patina, pose, punctum
This study introduces a novel approach to interpreting the Ranchhod and Rohit Oza vernacular photography collection from Stone Town, Zanzibar (1930–present), challenging conventional historical or cultural readings. By focusing on the medium's characteristics—patina, pose, and punctum—the research offers a 'sensuous' framework that emphasizes incompleteness and visual perception over narrative completeness. This method shifts the interpretation of the Capital Art Studio (CAS) archive away from illustrative history toward an experiential, sensory engagement with the images. The study draws on John Berger's Ways of Seeing to recontextualize how photography is viewed, curated, and analyzed, providing a fresh lens for understanding vernacular visual culture in UNESCO-listed Stone Town.
Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness of Historic Buildings: The Heritage Stone Town of Zanzibar
Historic buildings constructed with traditional materials, such as coral stone, mud, and mangrove poles, exhibit significant electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE), comparable to renowned structures from the Roman Empire. This finding highlights the potential of these materials in mitigating health and security risks posed by electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from modern wireless devices. The study tested buildings in Stone Town of Zanzibar, demonstrating that their construction techniques and materials can effectively shield EMR, offering insights for future building designs to incorporate traditional materials for enhanced shielding properties.
Implementing the World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy in Egypt
A pilot project in Zanzibar's Stone Town aimed to bridge the gap between urban development and heritage conservation, demonstrating how the 1972 World Heritage Convention can be adapted for inclusive economic and social development while protecting the environment. The study highlights that the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, introduced in 2009 through a UNESCO-led workshop, has been pivotal in reshaping Zanzibar's heritage management by integrating sustainable development principles. This shift addresses spatial disparities between Stone Town and Ng&sambo Tuitakayo, moving beyond the limitations of earlier plans like the 1982 Master Plan, which failed to harmonize urban realities with conservation goals.
Ng’ambo Tuitakayo, the buffer zone we want
The Stone Town of Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, exemplifies the transformative potential of urban conservation and heritage management in Africa. By adopting the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, local authorities have redefined spatial planning to integrate cultural development with sustainable growth. This innovative strategy not only fosters inclusive economic and social development but also prioritizes environmental sustainability, offering a model for balancing World Heritage preservation with broader sustainable development goals.
Wastewater Collection and Transportation through Drainage Network- a Potential Threat to Biodiversity & Local Eco-system in Zanzibar Stone-town & Surroundings
Wastewater effluents discharged into coastal waters around Zanzibar's Stone Town pose significant threats to biodiversity and public health, revealing alarmingly high levels of contamination. A cross-sectional study identified that impervious drains, out-pour sites, and afternoon samples exhibited the highest bacterial loads, predominantly gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, including Vibrio cholerae. Physicochemical analysis showed lower dissolved oxygen (DO) in impervious drains and elevated turbidity in mornings, with one drain exhibiting exceptionally high levels. Groundwater near pervious drains also exceeded WHO coliform guidelines. The findings underscore the urgent need for wastewater treatment strategies to mitigate ecological and health risks in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Calcium Carbonate Production, Coral Cover and Diversity along a Distance Gradient from Stone Town: A Case Study from Zanzibar, Tanzania
Coral reefs near Stone Town, Zanzibar, exhibit significantly lower calcium carbonate production (8.47 ± 4.37 kg CaCO₃ m⁻² yr⁻¹), coral cover (52.4 ± 13.9%), and biodiversity compared to those farther away or within marine protected areas, where values peak at 16.90 ± 9.70 kg CaCO₃ m⁻² yr⁻¹, 67.4 ± 8.7% cover, and higher diversity (H′ = 1.74 ± 0.20). This gradient suggests that human activities—such as fishing pressure, pollution, unregulated tourism, and anchoring—severely degrade reef health, while protection measures mitigate these impacts. The study highlights the critical role of distance from urban centers and management regimes in shaping coral community structure, with reefs closest to Stone Town dominated by stress-tolerant species like Porites lobata and P. rus. These findings underscore the need for targeted conservation efforts to preserve Zanzibar’s reef ecosystems.
Heritage Tourism, Youth Livelihoods, and Conservation Governance in Zanzibar Stone Town: A Longitudinal Analysis (2000–2026)
A significant but precarious reliance on tourism for youth incomes is evident in Zanzibar Stone Town, with over 60% of surveyed youth deriving primary income from the sector. This longitudinal analysis (2000–2026) reveals a persistent gap between formal conservation policy and informal economic practices, particularly among youth-led cultural enterprises operating at the margins of regulations. The study highlights adaptive but often unsustainable livelihood strategies that both challenge and sustain the heritage landscape. To address this, the research proposes integrating youth-led informal enterprises into formal conservation and business development frameworks, co-designing capacity-building programmes with youth stakeholders, and reforming governance structures to enable more participatory decision-making. The analysis employs a mixed-methods case study design, synthesising policy analysis, structured surveys of youth involved in the tourism economy, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders.
Restoration of Historic Buildings in Zanzibar
A critical insight from this study is the identification of optimal material ratios for restoring historic buildings in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Researchers found that using locally sourced sand with a grading pattern matching the original mortar, combined with lime at a ratio of 1:3 (lime to sand), significantly improves restoration outcomes. This approach mitigates the incompatibility issues caused by modern materials, which have accelerated deterioration in previously repaired buildings. The study employed visual investigations and laboratory tests—including chemical analysis, grading, compressive strength, and water absorption—to compare historic and contemporary repair materials. While similarities were observed, the optimal ratio for repair mortar was distinct from that of original materials, highlighting the need for tailored restoration techniques to preserve Zanzibar's architectural heritage effectively.
Beyond exploitation: towards a nuanced understanding of agency for adolescent female sex workers – evidence from Zanzibar and Morogoro
Adolescent female sex workers, despite facing severe constraints on their agency compared to adults, employ coping strategies that allow them to navigate their circumstances, demonstrating varying degrees of individual or collective agency. This nuanced understanding challenges the notion that adolescent agency is entirely compromised and highlights the need for tailored harm reduction and rehabilitative interventions. The study, conducted in Stone Town (Zanzibar) and Morogoro (Tanzania), involved 19 in-depth interviews with young sex workers (aged 18 or younger at entry) and 20 key informant interviews with adults and peer educators from ZAYEDESA, a local organization. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing adolescent agency to better address their unique needs.
Factors influencing local residents’ intentions to conserve the built heritage in Tanzania
Conservation of built heritage, such as the Stone Town of Zanzibar, is driven by both cognitive and affective factors. A study combining the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with Affection-Based Attachment Theory (AT) found that attitudes toward conservation, perceived social pressure, perceived control over conservation, and emotional attachment to heritage all significantly influence local residents' intentions to conserve built heritage in Tanzania. Structural Equation Modeling analysis of cross-sectional questionnaire data from three historic towns—Stone Town, Kilwa Kivinje, and Pangani—supported the integration of TPB with AT as a robust framework for understanding conservation behavior. This approach highlights that effective heritage conservation strategies must address both rational cognitive processes and emotional connections to heritage.
Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Employment Evidence: Zanzibar Tourism Industry
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Zanzibar's tourism industry, particularly in Stone Town and coastal regions, has demonstrated a positive correlation with employment growth. The study, conducted through questionnaires and interviews with tourist investors, reveals that FDI significantly enhances job opportunities while reinforcing the link between foreign investment and tourism expansion. Recommendations emphasize promoting international tourism and diversifying FDI across other economic sectors to balance development. This research underscores the potential of tourism-driven FDI in developing economies, offering actionable insights for policymakers aiming to optimize labor market benefits.
Ng’ambo Tuitakayo : reconnecting the Swahili City
The perceived distinction between Stone Town and Ng’ambo, two parts of Zanzibar City, is not inherent but a product of colonial impositions. This study reveals that both areas developed alongside since the mid-19th century, forming the largest Swahili city globally by the early 20th century, with deep economic, social, and cultural connections. Despite British segregation policies that labeled Ng’ambo as a slum, it retained its Swahili character due to the resilience of its inhabitants. The research explores the Ng’ambo Tuitakayo project, which aimed to redevelop Ng’ambo inclusively using UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape principles while reviving historical ties with Stone Town. Through morphological analysis and urban history examination, the study unravels the (dis)continuities between both parts and details the methods used in crafting the redevelopment plan.
Producing a World of Remains in Indian Ocean Africa: Discrepant Time, Melancholy Affect and the Subject of Transport in Capital Art Studio, Stone Town, Zanzibar
Capital Art Studio in Stone Town, Zanzibar, employs a unique visual idiom that challenges the heritage industry's narrative by re-presenting the city as a 'melancholy palimpsest.' This approach simultaneously evokes Zanzibar's past as an 'island metropolis' while resisting its consignment to history. The studio's photographic archive reveals discrepant temporalities, offering surfaces for self-fashioning that contrast with those of other postcolonial studios. By framing the past within a neoliberal global order, the studio articulates a time that was both cosmopolitan and commodifying, providing a nuanced perspective on Zanzibar's complex historical interface between the Indian Ocean world and continental Africa.
The meaning of Adabu and Adhabu for the ‘child protection’ discourse in Zanzibar
Global child protection initiatives often fail to resonate with local cultural and religious contexts, as demonstrated by Zanzibar's resistance to bans on corporal punishment. The concepts of adabu (manners/discipline) and adhabu (punishment/chastisement) are central to understanding children's and teachers' attitudes toward discipline in primary and Qur'anic schools. Ethnographic fieldwork revealed that universalized approaches, such as 'Positive Discipline' (adabu mbadala), overlook the nuanced meanings of disciplining practices, which are tied to Zanzibari notions of personhood (utu). A government-led unit promoting 'alternative punishment' (adhabu mbadala) reflects this disconnect, with terminology mismatches (e.g., adabu vs. adhabu) highlighting broader challenges in aligning international policies with local realities. The study advocates for child protection strategies that prioritize culturally sensitive, locally grounded approaches over one-size-fits-all models.
Tourism employment and local residents’ engagement in the conservation of the built heritage in Zanzibar Stone Town in Tanzania
Tourism employment significantly influences local residents' engagement in conserving Zanzibar Stone Town's built heritage, acting as a key moderator between attitudes toward conservation and the intention to conserve. This finding extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by integrating tourism factors, revealing that employed residents are more likely to engage in conservation efforts when they perceive social pressure or feel in control of their actions. The study, based on surveys of 208 households, underscores the importance of situational factors like employment in shaping conservation behavior. These insights have implications for both policy and management strategies aimed at preserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Visuality and Diasporic Dynamism: Goans in Mozambique and Zanzibar
This study highlights the significant role of understudied minority Goan communities in shaping port cities along littoral Africa, using visual representations from Mozambique and Zanzibar. By analyzing photo archives from Ricardo Rangel (Mozambique, 1970s) and Ranchhod Oza (Zanzibar, 1950s), the research reveals how Goan diasporic dynamism contributed to the cultural fabric of these historic urban centers. The visual approach offers new insights into the everyday lives and expressive moments of Goans in distinct geographic and temporal contexts, emphasizing their interconnectedness through Indian Ocean trade networks.
Zanzibari Social Entrepreneurs and Poverty Alleviation Strategies: Understanding Efforts to Build Local Community Sustainability
Local women social entrepreneurs in Zanzibar are effectively addressing poverty through innovative strategies that build educational opportunities, adapt to economic changes, and empower vulnerable populations. A qualitative study interviewing 15 women from rural Jambiani and urban Stone Town reveals their ventures' success in alleviating poverty by focusing on human capital development, business evolution, and social empowerment, including for people with disabilities. These findings highlight the potential of local initiatives to drive community sustainability when supported by social workers.
Groundwater quality degradation due to salt water intrusion in Zanzibar Municipality
Groundwater in Zanzibar Municipality is progressively becoming more saline, indicating significant saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers. Analysis of water samples from production boreholes revealed increasing levels of chloride, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved salts over time, with trends showing that saltwater ingress is still limited near shoreline areas like Beit-el-Ras and Mbweni but poses a high risk to the historic Stone Town area. The study, which combined current water quality data with historical records, highlights the potential for groundwater salinization due to increased pumping. To mitigate this issue, researchers recommend controlled groundwater extraction and the establishment of long-term monitoring programs.
Friction or Closure: Heritage as Loss
Heritage narratives often aim to fixate the past, but they frequently exclude or oversimplify complex historical realities. In Stone Town, Zanzibarthis tension is evident as competing accounts of identity, trade, slavery, and tourism clash under the umbrella of 'heritagization.' The study employs Anna Tsing's concept of 'friction' to analyze how diverse narratives—from informants, authorities, and texts—interact, construct, and contest each other. Through her role as a researcher, the author negotiates these conflicting stories, questioning what constitutes valid or invalid accounts. The research reveals that heritage designation, while preserving certain aspects of history, also risks erasing or marginalizing others, particularly in contexts marked by political tension, globalization, and religious shifts like Islamization.
Bioremediation Mariculture in Zanzibar, Tanzania: A Viability Assessment of Using Bath Sponge and Pearl Oyster Farms to Filter Highly Polluted Waters in the Zanzibar Channel
Marine sponges and pearl oysters demonstrate significant potential for bioremediation of highly polluted waters in the Zanzibar Channel, effectively reducing phosphate concentrations by up to 66% (from 3.93 µg/L to 1.33–1.73 µg/L) and converting dissolved nitrates into ammonium, increasing it from 4.01 µg/L to 21.5 µg/L. The study also found that sponges rapidly reduced water turbidity within 36 hours. Conducted in Stone Town, Unguja, this research builds on global bioremediation models while assessing the feasibility of implementing mariculture techniques tailored to Zanzibar’s pollution distribution and local water circulation patterns. Collaboration with private and governmental organizations, along with further scientific research, is deemed essential for successful implementation.
The Contribution of IslamicWaqfto Managing the Conservation of Buildings in the Historic Stone Town of Zanzibar
A resilient management system rooted in Islamic waqf traditions effectively shields historic buildings from external threats, ensuring their long-term survival. This study examines the Stone Town of Zanzibarwhere waqf structures provide financial and operational frameworks that adapt to economic, political, and human pressures. By analyzing waqf's governance, financing, and maintenance practices, researchers found that its ability to evolve with prevailing conditions acts as a critical safeguard against degradation. Unlike conventional conservation models, this approach emphasizes proactive protection over reactive maintenance, offering a sustainable blueprint for preserving cultural heritage.
The dialectics of functional and historical morphology in the evolution of a city: the case of the Stone Town of Zanzibar
A study of the Stone Town of Zanzibar reveals that its axial street structure has remained a consistent force shaping urban functions despite significant historical and socio-political changes. The research found that the town's syntactic centrality, analyzed through Space Syntax techniques, evolved in distinct phases but maintained a diffused pattern influencing current land use, ownership, building classifications, and streetscape elements. This dialectical relationship between history and function offers an enriched methodology for understanding urban morphological processes, bridging historical specificity with generic spatial analysis. The findings contribute to both urban theory and historical research by emphasizing the interplay between design and power politics in traditional cities.
Wedding ceremonies and cultural exchange in an Indian Ocean port city: the case of Zanzibar Town
Wedding rituals in Zanzibar Town reflect its historical role as a cosmopolitan hub, blending local and foreign cultural influences. The study highlights the dynamic evolution of customs like 'singo' (scrubbing) and henna application ('kuchora na kupaka hina'), which have adapted to economic and political shifts while retaining their significance. By centering on women's narratives, the research reveals how these rituals embody shared identities and self-understandings, illustrating Zanzibar's unique cultural synthesis in the Indian Ocean. The approach combines historical analysis with ethnographic insights to trace ritual transformations over time.
Sustainable architectural conservation according to traditions of Islamicwaqf: the World Heritage–listed Stone Town of Zanzibar
The tradition of Islamic waqf in Zanzibar's Stone Town offers a sustainable model for architectural conservation, balancing heritage preservation with urban use. This study reveals that waqf buildings have survived centuries without significant decay, suggesting inherent sustainability 'genes' within the tradition. By examining financial, social, managerial, and environmental aspects, researchers found that waqf effectively prevents gentrification while enabling collective urban conservation. The findings highlight that sustainable heritage practices require monetary sacrifices but can be long-lasting if embedded in cultural traditions.
Influence of Outsourced Finance on Conservation of Built Heritage in a Developing Country
Outsourced finance plays a pivotal role in sustaining the built heritage of Stone Town, Zanzibar, by elevating its global visibility and reviving stagnant conservation efforts. However, despite these contributions, current practices often yield detrimental outcomes that hinder long-term sustainability. The study examines how external financial sources influence heritage conservation in developing countries where internal resources are insufficient. It highlights both the positive impact of outsourced finance—such as bringing international attention to Stone Town—and its limitations, which fail to ensure lasting preservation effects.
Socio-cultural Impacts of Tourism on World Heritage Sites: Communities' Perspective of Lamu (Kenya) and Zanzibar Islands
A comparative analysis of Lamu Old Town (Kenya) and Zanzibar Stone Town reveals divergent socio-cultural impacts of tourism, shaped by differing levels of community involvement in planning, management, and ownership. While governments and tourism organizations prioritize marketing and image creation, local communities seek economic benefits through increased visitation, whereas site managers focus on preservation and mitigating negative effects. The study highlights the tension between these interests, emphasizing the need for balanced strategies that address accessibility, service provision, and visitor behavior to sustain heritage integrity while maximizing socio-economic advantages for locals.
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